FR2923635A1 - SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC COMMERCE TRANSACTIONS, PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE, COMMUNICATION NETWORK, CORRESPONDING COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT AND METHOD. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for transferring electronic data between a first plurality of communication equipment and a second plurality of interconnected communication equipment via a communication network.In accordance with the invention, the first plurality of communication equipment sends messages of a first type, comprising a request to modify a value stored in first storage means or in second storage means, or a second type, including an indication that a stored in said first storage means has been changed to the second plurality of communication equipment.The second plurality of communication equipment sends messages of a third type to the first plurality of communication equipment, comprising a indication for modifying the value stored in the first memory means or a transfer error indication. The first and second plurality of communication equipment are also adapted for exchanging messages in encrypted form.

Description

System for electronic commerce transactions, portable electronic device, communication network, computer program product and method thereof. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The field of the invention is that of the transfer of electronic data through a network including various data storage and communication devices, including mobile communication terminals. The invention applies in particular to a system and an electronic data transfer network relating to electronic commerce transactions. 2. PRIOR ART There are various architectures of communication networks between storage units, in which the data transfers between storage units obey predetermined rules of access control and synchronization.

Many such networks involving pluralities of memory cards cooperating with pluralities of transfer devices have thus been developed since the invention of the memory card. The complexification of possible applications, as well as the concomitant development of other types of portable objects, such as mobile communication terminals (foremost among which are mobile phones), pose new problems requiring innovative solutions. Thus, in e-commerce systems and applications known in the prior art, a user generally uses a smart card or so-called intelligent smart card to pay for a product or service at a particular point of sale (POS for "Point"). of Sale "in English). In the case of payments for a product or service using a smart card, in which a certain amount of money is stored in electronic format, a reading-writing terminal located in the point of sale reads the information stored in the smart card. the user and subtract the price of the product or service purchased by the user.

Smart cards or integrated circuit cards generally comprise a semiconductor memory in which an amount of electronic money can be stored, read or written, as well as communication means by contact (s) or without contact with a terminal. read-write located in a place of sale. In the case of contactless communication, the smart card is simply held in the immediate vicinity of the read-write terminal or presented to a reading surface. Such applications in which a user purchases goods, articles or services using an integrated circuit card which stores a sum of money in electronic format correspond, for example, to electronic wallet applications (E -purse in English). When the electronic cash balance of the integrated circuit card reaches zero or is insufficient to purchase a certain product, the card can be recharged using a specific charging terminal that transfers money in electronic format to the map. The recharging terminal may receive money from the user or subtract the amount of money transferred on the card to a user's bank account or an electronic account (electronic wallet or E-wallet in English) opened by the user. the user with a certain broker, who can be the organization that provides the smart card (E-purse) to the user. In order to be able to check the current scale of the smart card, the user must go to the nearest point of sale or to the charging terminal which will be able to read the current amount of electronic money stored in the card and display it at the same time. 'user. In order to prevent a user from moving to the nearest point of sale and to provide ways to check the current balance of the smart card at any time and in any location, it is possible to purchase integrated circuit card readers or use mobile phones that are provided with such integrated circuit card readers and that allow the reading of the balance of the card through the display of the mobile phone. 3. Disadvantages of the prior art However, the prior art techniques always have the disadvantage that a user can not recharge his electronic wallet without having to go to a charging terminal, which is sometimes only possible during the opening hours of the place where the charging station is located.

Thus, when the electronic balance stored in the integrated circuit card is not sufficient to purchase a certain product or service, the user will not be able to complete the desired purchase. He will have to locate such a charging terminal, move around and wait for the terminal to be free to use. 4. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is notably to overcome these disadvantages of the prior art. More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a system for transferring electronic data over a network including various data storage and communication devices, including mobile communication terminals, in which the user is able to controlling, in an extended, coordinated and protected manner, transactions between various memory units to which it selectively has access, from a single control point (its mobile communication terminal). Another object of the invention is to provide such a system, as well as the associated devices and methods, which are particularly suitable for managing a network of electronic wallets and electronic coin purses. 5. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, these objectives as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved by means of a system for the transfer of electronic data between a first plurality of communication equipment. and a second plurality of interconnected communication equipment over a communication network, said first plurality of communication equipment being at least portable electronic devices, each portable electronic device being carried by a user, and comprising first data transfer control means interconnected to first storage means (EP) and to wireless communication means, said wireless communication means being adapted to communicate wirelessly through said communications network with said second plurality of communication equipment, said second plurality of e communications being constituted at least by equipment each distributed at fixed locations of said communications network and comprising second data transfer control means interconnected to second storage means (EW), said first data transfer control means said first plurality of communication equipment being adapted to generate and send messages of a first or second type, through said wireless communication means, to said second plurality of communication equipment, said message first type comprising a request to modify a value stored in said first storage means (EP) or in said second storage means (EW) and a user identification information, said second type messages comprising an indication that a value stored in said first storage means (EP) has been modified, said second data transfer control means of said second plurality of communication equipment being adapted to receive and analyze said messages of a first or a second type of said first plurality of equipment communication system, checking whether said user identification information allows access to said second storage means (EW), and generating and sending messages of a third type, by said wireless communication means, to said first plurality of communication equipment, said messages of a third type comprising an indication for modifying the value stored in said first storage means (EP) or an electronic data transfer error indication, said first and second control means of respective data transfer of said first and second plurality of communication equipment being if adapted to exchange messages in encrypted form. Advantageously, said first storage means (EP) are in the form of logical micro-structures. According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, said first plurality of communication equipments also comprises coupling means making it possible to couple at will, temporarily, via a coupling interface (W1), at least one of said first plurality of communication equipment to an independent recording device (PT) located in a fixed location, said independent recording device (PT) comprising means for reading the contents of said first storage means (EP). ) of said equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment when said equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment is coupled with said independent recording device (PT), and writing means in said first storage means ( EP) of said equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment. Preferably, a message of the first type sent by at least one of said first plurality of communication equipment to at least one of said second plurality of communication equipment includes a request to increase a stored value. in said first storage means (EP) by a certain amount, said data transfer control means of said second communication equipment being also adapted to access the second storage means (EW) of said second equipment, in order to reduce a stored value in said second storage means (EW) by said certain quantity, and for sending to said first equipment a message of a third type comprising an indication for increasing the value stored in the first storage means (EP), and said data transfer control means of said first equipment being also adapted to access said first storage means (EP), in order to increase a value stored in said first storage means (EP) by said certain quantity, and to send to said second equipment a message of a second type comprising an indication that said first storage means (EP) have been modified. According to another characteristic of the invention, said message of a first type sent by said first equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment to said second equipment of said second plurality of communication equipment, comprising a request for increase of a value stored in said first storage means (EP) by a certain amount, is sent automatically when the value stored in said first storage means (EP) is below a certain threshold. Advantageously, said message of a first type sent by said first equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment to said second equipment of the second plurality of communication equipment comprises a request to increase a value stored in said second storage means (EW) by a certain amount, the data transfer control means of said second communication equipment (S1 to S4) being also adapted to access said second storage means (EW) in order to increase the value stored in said second storage means (EW) by said certain quantity, and for sending a message of a third type to said first equipment including an indication allowing the decrease of a value stored in said first storage means (EP), and the data transfer control means of said first equipment being also adapted po ur to access said first storage means (EP), in order to decrease the value stored in said first storage means (EP) by said certain quantity, and to send a message of a second type to said second equipment including an indication that said first storage means (EP) have been modified.

According to another advantageous characteristic, said messages of a first, second and third types also comprise an identification number, and in that the data transfer control means of the first plurality of communication equipment and the second plurality of communication equipments are also adapted to record said identification number, check whether the messages arrive in a determined order of protocol and record a disturbance event of said protocol. These same control means are also advantageously adapted to detect that a certain number of disturbance events has been reached, and to generate and send a system synchronization request to change the state of a number of transfer protocols. electronic data. Advantageously, the data transfer control means of the first plurality of communication equipment are also adapted to exchange control information with display control means in order to provide a menu of operations in said first plurality of communication devices. communication equipment, said operation menu displaying electronic data transfer options available to the user, current and historical information on electronic data transfers, electronic data stored in said first storage means (EP) and electronic data transfer error or success messages.

According to a preferred configuration, said second plurality of communication equipment (S1 to S4) comprises at least one dedicated electronic transactional communications server (S1) adapted to receive and transmit to said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) all transaction requests, said second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S4) being connected to a central electronic transaction server (S2) adapted to encrypt / decrypt the communications with the first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) to the using a key management server (S3), and adapted to authenticate, access and modify a value of at least one of said second storage means (EW) in a virtual wallet application server (S4) ). In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the value to be modified in said first storage means (EP) and / or in said second storage means (EW) is a value indicating a sum of money possessed by the user in an electronic format. The invention also relates to an electronic data transfer method implemented in a system having all or some of the above characteristics. The invention also covers a portable electronic communication device comprising: - first storage means (EP) comprising a certain amount of money in electronic format corresponding to an electronic wallet of a user, - means of coupling via a first wireless interface (W 1) - advantageously in RFID form or the like - with independent recording devices (PT) located at fixed locations, to pay for products or services, - wireless communication means via a second wireless interface (W2) with a communication network (N), and 25 - data transfer control means adapted to generate and send request messages to said network of communication (N) for transferring an amount of electronic money between second storage means (EW) of an equipment accessible via said communication network (N) compr an electronic account of said user, and said first storage means (EP). The invention also covers a communication network (N) comprising: - storage means (EW) comprising a value representative of a certain amount of money in electronic format corresponding to a user's electronic bank account, - wireless communication means for receiving electronic transaction request messages from a portable electronic device (UMD), means for analyzing and authenticating such transaction requests, and - means for transferring a value representative of an amount of electronic money between storage means (EP) of said user's portable electronic device (UMD) and storage means (EW) accessible via said communication network (N) and comprising an electronic account of said user. The invention also aims to cover a computer program product downloadable from a communication network and / or stored on a computer readable medium and / or executable by a microprocessor, characterized in that it comprises code instructions of program for: - reading or writing data in first memory means (EP) of a user's portable electronic device (UMD) comprising a certain amount of money in electronic format corresponding to an electronic purse of said user , 25 - generating and sending to a network (N) a request to start an electronic money transaction between said first storage means (EP) and storage means (EW) of said communication network (N) comprising an electronic account said user, - receiving transaction response messages from said communication network (N), and - updating the electronic cash balance in said first storage means (EP).

The invention also advantageously covers a method for the electronic data transfer applicable to electronic commerce transactions, the method comprising the following steps: the sending by a portable electronic device (UMD) of requests to a communication network (N) via a wireless interface (W2) for initiating transactions of electronic values representative of sums of money between storage means of said portable electronic device (UMD) of a user including an electronic bank account balance and storage means (EW) of said communication network (N) comprising an electronic account of said user; reception, recognition and response by said communication network (N) to said transaction request of said portable electronic device; updating by said portable electronic device of said electronic silver balance in said m storage means of said portable electronic device, and - updating by said communication network (N) of said storage means (EW) comprising said electronic account. Advantageously, the communications between the portable electronic device (UMD) and the communication network (N) are encrypted and the electronic transactions are authenticated to only allow transactions between mutually authorized devices.

Preferably, said wireless interface (W2) allows communication between said portable electronic device (UMD) and said communication network (N) beyond at least ten meters. According to another preferred feature, said request of said portable electronic device (UMD) is a request to reload the storage means (EP) of said portable electronic device (UMD) in response to which said communication network (N) transfers a representative value of a sum of money in electronic format to said storage means (EP) of said portable electronic device (UMD).

In another feature, said request is automatically sent to the communication network (N) when the electronic value (which corresponds for example to a bank balance) stored in said storage means (EP) of said portable electronic device (UMD) is below a predetermined threshold value.

According to yet another feature, said request of said portable electronic device (UMD) is a request to transfer a value representative of a sum of money in electronic format of said storage means (EP) of said portable electronic device (UMD) to said means storing (EW) said communication network (N). 6. List of Figures Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of two particular embodiments, given by way of simple illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings, among which: FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of a system for electronic data transfers according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a first implementation of a system for electronic data transfers according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 3 illustrates a second implementation of a system for electronic data transfers according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 4 shows a first diagram illustrating the transfer of electronic money from an electronic wallet of a user located in a network to a virtual wallet of the user according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 shows a second diagram illustrating the transfer of electronic money from an electronic wallet of a user located in a network to a virtual wallet of the user according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 6 shows a third diagram illustrating the electronic money transfer from an electronic account of a user located in a network to a virtual wallet of the user according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 7 shows a diagram illustrating the electronic money transfer of a user's virtual wallet to an electronic account of a user located in a network according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 8 illustrates a credit transaction message flow between a mobile device of a user and the network according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 9 illustrates a flow transaction message flow between a mobile device of a user and the network according to an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 10 illustrates a first scenario of management of a disturbed transaction message flow between a mobile device of a user and the network according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 11 illustrates a second scenario of management of a disturbed transaction message flow between a mobile device of a user and the network according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 12 illustrates a third scenario of managing a disturbed transaction message flow between a mobile device of a user and the network according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 13 illustrates a first type of transaction synchronization between a mobile device of a user and the network according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 14 illustrates a second type of transaction synchronization between a mobile device of a user and the network according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the initiation of a transaction request by a mobile device of a user; Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating receipt of a transaction request by a network; Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating receipt of a transaction response by a mobile device of a user; Figs. 18A, B, C, D, E show an exemplary SIM Toolkit menu for managing electronic transactions with a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the invention. 7. Description of an embodiment of the invention Overview of the silver transaction system in electronic format. FIG. 1 shows a general schematic diagram of a system for electronic commerce transactions according to one embodiment of the invention, comprising a sales terminal PT connected to a server of a merchant MS located in the merchant's premises MP; , a first wireless interface W1, a mobile device of a user UMD comprising an electronic wallet EP, a second wireless interface W2, an network N and a server NS of the network N comprising an electronic wallet EW of the user .

In the following description, the electronic wallet EP implemented or included in the mobile device of a user UMD (User's Mobile Device) designates an E-purse in English and the electronic wallet EW of the user included in the network N designates an E-wallet in English. It will be understood that the electronic wallet EP is a means for storing in a mobile device UMD a sum of money of a user in electronic format and that the electronic wallet EW is a means included in an N network, a database for example, to store another sum of money from the same or from another user.

Typically, a user opens an EW eWallet account with a certain or a bank or similar organization, and the EW eWallet is used to purchase products or services through different channels, such as mobile technology. STK or USSD, Internet or telephone connection.

It will be understood that the electronic wallet EP is a feature offered to a user, generally within a mobile device, and which allows the in-person user to pay for a product or service, in the same way as he or she does. paid at a merchant or sales terminal of a merchant, in cash, with a credit card or smart card called smart card. The electronic wallet EP is according to an embodiment of the invention similar to the electronic payment means known from the prior art, such as electronic purses implemented in a smart card (smart card in English), so that the user can make a payment using wireless communication means integrated in the mobile device of 1 user who carries the smart card with a sales terminal PT, for example by simply holding the mobile device UMD nearby immediate sales terminal PT. Generally, the payment will be made by a first wireless communication interface W1 using in known manner the RFID communication technology between the sales terminal and the integrated circuit card included in the mobile device. However, the system of the invention is not limited to this type of payment by means of RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). Thus according to another embodiment of the invention, the payment can be made via a wireless interface using other wireless communication technologies, for example Bluetooth, GSM or WLAN. Thus, the electronic wallet can be considered as the mobile electronic money of the user or as a sum of money stored in electronic format in a memory of the mobile device that the user can take with him anywhere and anytime to make purchases. The electronic wallet can be considered as the fixed electronic bank account of the user located in a certain bank or a broker. In known manner in smart card applications such as the electronic purse of the prior art, the user will have to recharge his card with money in electronic format when the balance (balance) of his electronic purse reaches zero or is insufficient to make the purchase of a product. According to the invention, the user will be able to recharge his electronic wallet EP whenever he wants, that is to say anywhere and anytime, by simply sending a wireless request to the network N, in which his EW electronic wallet is located, from the mobile device UMD. According to one embodiment of the invention, when the user wishes to recharge his electronic wallet EP with a certain amount of money in electronic format, he will use his mobile device UMD to send a request for reloading the network N by the through the W2 wireless interface. The network will recognize such a request and will validate the transfer of the desired amount of electronic money to the electronic wallet of the UMD mobile device. This can be done for example, after the authentication of the user and the verification that the user can access his electronic wallet on the network, to modify the value that is stored (representative of an electronic account balance - or "balance" of account) on the network, that is by subtracting a certain value (for example a sum of money) from the current balance and providing a response to the mobile device by modifying the balance of the wallet accordingly, by adding a certain amount to the current balance (or "balance") of the electronic purse. Values stored in EP and EW account stores may represent sums of money, but may represent other types of values.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the recharging of the electronic purse will be performed automatically and the user can set the threshold of the balance to initiate automatic reloading and the amount of reloading. According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the user can also transfer money in electronic format from his electronic wallet to the electronic wallet on the network when he wants. The network N may be a bank or broker network, a network of a telecommunications operator or a combination of such communication networks which comprises at least one network element, ie an NS server capable of receiving requests for transactions from a mobile device of the user, managing the user's electronic wallet on the network and providing the corresponding responses to the mobile device of the user according to the invention. The wireless interface W2 located between the mobile device of the user UMD and the network N can be implemented by wireless technologies known in the art, for example Bluetooth, SMS, MMS, WAP, WLAN, which allow the transfer of information over short or long distances (i.e., more than 10 meters) between a mobile device and a network access element. The mobile device of the user can be a mobile phone, a personal assistant or any other device that can be worn by the user and communicate wirelessly with a network. According to another embodiment of the invention, the user, using his mobile device UMD, can check the electronic balance of his electronic wallet and obtain information about the latest electronic commercial transactions made, transfer money from his electronic wallet EW to his electronic wallet EP, and / or transfer money electronically from his electronic wallet EP to the electronic wallet EW.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the mobile device of the user is a mobile phone which comprises a multifunctional integrated circuit card which can be both a SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card and a card RFID smart payment that allows the storage of money in electronic format.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, by using the menu of the visual interface of the mobile device called SIM TOOLKIT, a user can check the balance of his electronic wallet, request information about the latest transactions, recharge money from your e-wallet or bank account to your e-wallet before you use your e-wallet to buy a product or service (for example, a toll or ticket) , transfer electronic money from your e-wallet to your e-wallet or bank account, or specify an amount for the automatic recharging of your e-wallet when your e-purse balance is below from a certain threshold. EXAMPLE OF ARCHITECTURE OF ELECTRONIC TRANSACTION SYSTEMS FIG. 2 shows a first diagram of an electronic transaction system according to one embodiment of the invention comprising a mobile device of a UMD user comprising an electronic purse EP, a wireless interface W2, and an N network comprising an electronic wallet of an EW user and 4 network elements or servers S1 to S4. The first server S1 can be a server of a communications network dedicated to electronic transactions. All requests for electronic transactions from the mobile device of the user can thus be addressed and managed by the server which will redirect them to the other electronic transaction servers of the network N. The first server S1 may be for example an SMS gateway (Short Message Service in English) dedicated to receiving requests in the form of SMS messages sent by the mobile device of the user UMD in order to initialize an electronic transaction. The transaction request of the mobile device of the user can be redirected to a second application server S2 or a central electronic transaction server in charge for example to manage the encryption and decryption of network communications with the mobile device of the user. user, to manage the authentication of the user, and to manage the debit and the credit of the transactions in relation with the two other servers, that is to say the application server of the wallet S4 and the management server of keys S3. The key management server S3 for example provides the encryption and decryption keys to credit or debit the electronic purse located in the mobile device of the user UMD. The electronic wallet application server S4 manages the data in relation to the user's EW wallet on the network. By using the authentication data received from the electronic transaction server S2 and the amount of money debited or credited, the electronic wallet application server S4 can update the balance of the user's electronic wallet EW. Although not shown in the figure, it is also possible to provide a computer connection to the central electronic transaction server S2 and / or the electronic wallet application server S4 for managing customers, accounts and commerce. , that is, the network operator, bank or broker can obtain and manage information about all the electronic transactions that have been made, all users and their respective electronic accounts on the network. For example, the broker may decide to provide a reward or prize to certain users who would fit a particular transaction history profile or who would limit the credit or maximum amount of their electronic transactions. FIG. 3 shows a second architecture diagram of the electronic transaction system according to one embodiment of the invention comprising a mobile device of the user UMD comprising an electronic purse EP, a second wireless interface W2, a first network N1 comprising a first electronic wallet of the user EW1 and five elements of the network or servers if at S5 and a second network N2 comprising a second electronic wallet of an EW2 user.

Figure 3 comprises a structure similar to that shown in Figure 2 except that two different electronic wallets EW1 and EW2 may be present in two different networks N1 and N2. This may be advantageous in applications in which a certain communications operator, bank or broker establishes electronic transaction partnerships. In these electronic transaction application scenarios, the first network N1 can communicate with the second network N2 so as to access the second electronic wallet of an EW2 user. For this purpose, the electronic wallet application server S4 of the first network N1 is connected to an S5 communication gateway which is in charge of establishing the electronic commerce transaction connections with the trading partner's N2 network of the commercial partner. It is also possible for the network N2 to provide information to the communication gateway S5 according to which the user has in this network a certain amount of money, for example a bank account or a credit card account, or has paid a fee. a certain amount of money for a certain service (for example a prepaid service), and the S5 communications gateway converts such money into electronic form and pays the payment with the N2 network of the trading partner after the electronic transaction. It should be noted that FIGS. 2 and 3 show only an exemplary architecture of some of the elements of the network present in the communications network or the communications networks that communicate with the mobile device of the user in order to perform electronic transactions between the user's electronic wallet and the user's electronic wallet on the network.

It will be understood that the functionalities of the aforementioned servers could be implemented in the network, using a different number of servers or connections between servers. Electronic money transfer from the user's electronic wallet to the user's electronic wallet. Scenario of 10 reloading the electronic wallet. As indicated above, and according to the invention, the user can recharge his mobile device including the electronic purse when he wants and when a wireless network is available to perform communications. The user will not have to go to a specific reloading terminal, as is the case when he uses a smart card comprising an electronic wallet. FIG. 4 shows a diagram illustrating the messages for effecting an electronic money transfer from the user's electronic wallet to the user's mobile device electronic wallet according to an embodiment of the invention. 'invention. According to the example of the figure, the user reloads his electronic wallet using a mobile phone. The mobile phone includes means for displaying an option of reloading the electronic purse on the display using for example an implementation of a SIM TOOLKIT menu. When the user selects this option, a mobile phone module is active, and then generates and sends an SMS request message to the network. The network then accepts the transfer of money from the mobile phone's electronic wallet and then updates the user's electronic bank account. Figure 5 shows a second scenario for transferring money in electronic format to an electronic wallet of the user from the user's electronic wallet located on the network according to one embodiment of the invention. According to the example of the figure, the user recharges his electronic wallet by using a mobile phone from a bank account or a credit card account located in the network that does not belong not to the supplier of his electronic purse, as has been explained in connection with Figure 3. The different messages are similar to those shown in relation to Figure 4, except that message parameters are different, for example the information concerning the bank account of the user and the presence of a new element of the network, the communication gateway S5 which is in charge of the payment of the transfer of money in electronic format with the bank or the bank. credit entity. Figure 6 shows a third diagram describing the electronic money transfer of the user's electronic wallet from the user's electronic wallet located on the network according to one embodiment of the invention. According to the example of the figure, the user reloads his electronic wallet by using a mobile phone from a prepaid account in a network that does not belong to the supplier of his electronic purse, such as this has been explained in connection with FIG. 3. The electronic transaction messages are very similar to the messages shown in FIG. 5, except that message parameters are different, for example information about the user and the S5 communication gateway which is a prepayment gateway.

In general, for the transfer of money in electronic format according to the invention, the mobile device UMD of the user comprises data transfer control means which are connected to first storage means which comprise at least the electronic balance of the user and which correspond to the user's portable electronic wallet EP, as well as wireless communication means for communicating via the wireless interface W2 with the communication network N. The network comprises second data transfer control means, for example the servers S1 to S5 which are each located at fixed locations in the communication network and second storage means which contain at least one electronic account of a user, and which correspond to the electronic wallet of the user in the network. In the context of transactions, the mobile device of the user UMD generally sends two types of messages to the network N: a message of a first type (A in the figures) being a request to start a transaction between the electronic wallet portable EP and the electronic wallet EW of the network, and a message of the second type (C in the figures) which is a recognition message indicating to the network that the balance of the electronic purse has been changed. The network on its side generally receives the message of the first type from the mobile device and provides a message of a third type which is a response message (B in the figures) indicating to the mobile device that the balance of the wallet electronic has been modified. The answer message B of the network will depend for example on data included in the message of the first type received from the mobile device, for example user identification data and the amount of electronic money to be transferred. If, for example, the user is not allowed to access a particular e-wallet, or if the user's identification and authentication is incorrect, or if the amount to be transferred is above one certain limit, or if there is not enough money in the user's EW wallet, the network will provide an error message to the mobile device, and the transaction will not be performed. According to the examples of FIGS. 4 to 6, the user uses the SIM Toolkit menu in the UMD portable device to initiate a transaction with the network comprising his electronic wallet in order to recharge the electronic wallet of the portable device, and seizes a sum to reload and PIN (Personal Identification Number). A mobile phone data transfer control function then generates, in connection with the multifunction smart card of the mobile phone, a message comprising the information entered by the user and other information, for example the command or the user's request to reload the electronic wallet (from his networked electronic wallet or credit / debit card), encryption information, transaction information, credentials of the user mobile phone or electronic wallet, credit / debit card information in case this option has been chosen. Once the message has been generated and the information of the new transaction stored in the integrated circuit card of the mobile phone or in any other memory, the mobile device UMD sends this message in the form of at least one SMS to the communication network in which the servers S1 to S4 are located. The first server S1 that receives the transaction request message A of the mobile phone is for example an SMS gateway which identifies the message as being an electronic transaction and redirects the message to a second application server S2 or a central electronic transaction server. who supports such transactions. The central electronic transaction server then decrypts the SMS message or the received messages according to a specific encryption key, such as for example a SIM key, and verifies that the transaction message corresponds to a new transaction or to a relationship with a transaction. in progress, for example by checking the transaction ID. The central electronic transaction server also checks, in case a number of transactions have not been validated or if a number of protocol disruption events have been reached, whether a synchronization with the portable device UMD is necessary. The central electronic transaction server then establishes a communication session with the electronic wallet application server S4, for example by using an MSISDN (mobile station integrated services digital network) service, in order to verify, for example, that the PIN user input allows access to the user's electronic wallet, that the amount of money required by the user is present in the user's electronic wallet and that the amount of money required is not greater than a certain predetermined limit. In the case where the user chooses the reloading of his electronic wallet from a bank account, a credit card account or a specific prepaid card account, the information is communicated to the wallet application server. S4 which in turn establishes a communication with an S5 communication gateway in charge of the payment management with a bank account, a credit card account or a specific prepaid card account.

In the case where the previous verifications in relation to the electronic wallet application server S4, and possibly with the communication gateway S5, are successful, the central electronic transaction server S2 generates a request to the wallet application server. S4 electronic to update the electronic wallet of the user, for example to decrease the balance of money in electronic format by the amount indicated by the user. Once the S4 electronic wallet application server provides feedback on a successful modification of the user's electronic wallet, the central electronic transaction server S2 requires a credit key from the electronic wallet to the wallet server. S3 key management.

After receiving the credit key for the electronic purse, the central electronic transaction server S2 puts the status of the transaction on hold, and generates, encrypts and then sends a transaction response message to the SMS gateway S1. The transaction response message sent from the central electronic transaction server S2 to the SMS gateway S1 may be sent as at least one SMS message or in any other suitable form. The SMS gateway S1 may be responsible for adapting the transaction response messages received from the central electronic transaction server S2 in the form of at least one short message B to be sent to the mobile device UMD of the user. The transaction response message B received from the user's portable device UMD comprises at least transaction information, such as, for example, a transaction identifier, a network transaction result and a credit key information.

Once the user's UMD mobile phone has received the transaction response message B from the network, he decrypts the SMS messages, checks whether the transaction response matches the current transaction, credits the electronic purse (for example, example by increasing the cash balance in electronic format by a certain amount), puts the state of the mobile phone transaction process on hold, and generates and sends a message C of receiving the transaction to the network. When the central electronic transaction server S2 receives the reception message from the mobile phone UMD, the central electronic transaction server S2 validates the fact that the transaction was carried out correctly, said transaction then being validated so as to indicate that this transaction was done correctly. The credit key data received in the message C is sent to the key management server which also validates the transaction credit key. Automatic recharging of the user's electronic wallet included in the mobile device According to another embodiment of the invention, the electronic wallet of the user included in the mobile device can be automatically recharged when for example the balance electronic purse passes below a certain predetermined threshold. This avoids the need for a user to continuously check the balance of his electronic wallet, and ensures that the electronic wallet will contain a predetermined minimum amount of money. According to another embodiment of the invention, the user can activate / deactivate the automatic recharging of his electronic wallet included in the mobile device, and set the threshold and the amount to be recharged, and check the settings of automatic reloading in progress for example. The following functions can be implemented depending on the automatic charging feature of the e-wallet: 1. Switch on: activate automatic reload 2. Switch off: disable automatic reload 3. Status: check the status of the automatic charging (on or off off) and the status of the automatic reload settings. When the user activates the automatic reloading option, the mobile device will store the following parameters: - threshold value of the electronic balance: when the customer's balance is below this threshold, a reloading request will be generated automatically; - amount: an amount to be transferred during each automatic recharging of the electronic purse. -NIP (PIN for personal identification number) that will be used by the network to identify the user. Thus, when the automatic reloading is activated, the user can pay with his electronic wallet and must not worry about the minimum amount of money present on his electronic purse. The mobile device will continuously check the balance of its electronic wallet, and send a reload request to the network when necessary. In addition, with the automatic reload feature, customers no longer need to put a large amount of money on their e-wallet as it will automatically recharge when the balance reaches a threshold.

Thus, customers will be better protected when they misplace their mobile phone, or when their mobile phone is stolen, to the extent that they will not have a large amount of money stored in their electronic purse. The user can also contact a call center of the company that provides the electronic wallet application and can block the electronic purse. Transfer of electronic money from the user's electronic wallet to the user's electronic wallet According to another embodiment of the invention, the user can not only transfer money to his electronic wallet from his electronic wallet on the network, but can also, when necessary, transfer electronic money from his electronic wallet to his electronic wallet on the network. FIG. 7 shows the succession of messages for effecting an electronic money transfer from the electronic wallet of the user included in the mobile device to the electronic wallet of the user included in the network according to an embodiment of the invention. invention. According to the example of the figure, the user transfers the money to his electronic wallet in the network using a UMD portable device. The portable device comprises means for displaying for example an option to transfer to the electronic wallet (for example by using an implementation of the SIM TOOLKIT menu). When the user selects this option, a mobile phone module is activated and generates and sends an SMS request message to the network N which includes the servers S1 to S4 as can be seen in FIG.

The network will then check the request and provide a response B to the portable device including the corresponding certifications and an indication that the transfer can continue and the wallet has been debited. When the mobile device has debited the electronic purse (for example the balance is decreased by a certain amount), the mobile device confirms this to the network with a confirmation message C and the network validates the electronic money transfer, then sets the balance of the user's electronic wallet EW. Example of Credit or Debit Transaction Messages Figures 8 and 9 show two examples of "normal" transaction messages between a mobile device of the UMD user and the N network. Figure 8 shows a credit transaction of a electronic purse, that is to say a scenario of reloading an electronic purse. Figure 9 shows a debit transaction of the electronic purse or a transfer of money from the electronic purse to the electronic wallet on the network. According to one embodiment of the invention, a software application of the smart card of the mobile phone provides all or part of the features indicated in the figures.

The network provides the corresponding credit or debit key certificates, in order to credit or debit the electronic purse. According to one embodiment of the invention, the network, for example the network server, records the following electronic transaction system information: 1. a transaction identifier code 2. a transaction type (for example credit or debit) 3. a transaction amount 4. the time and date of the transaction 5. an identifier of the user's mobile device or e-wallet 6. the transaction result of the server 7. the transaction result of the device 8. a secure verification code 9. the status of the transaction (eg ongoing or completed) In addition each transaction event is carefully recorded and controlled. Management and Disruption of Transaction Messages FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show three transaction message disruption management scenarios between a mobile device of a UMD user and an N network according to the invention. Since the credit transactions (charging of the electronic purse) and debit (transferring EP to EW) between the mobile device of the user and the network have the same structure, FIGS. 11 and 12 use only the electronic wallet reload transaction messages to show how the disruptions are handled. Figure 10 shows how a disturbed credit transaction response is handled. It should be noted that when the transaction log is full, no new transactions are allowed until the network synchronizes with the card and performs all pending transactions. This ensures data consistency throughout the system. According to the figure, a first transaction Ti is initiated when the mobile device of the user UMD sends a first transaction request A1 to the network N. The mobile device of the user UMD then records a code associated with the first transaction Ti, by example in the form 0000, and is placed in a waiting state of a transaction response message B1 from the network. In the case where the mobile device of the user UMD does not receive a transaction response message B1 within a given period of time or in the case where the user decides to cancel the first transaction Ti in progress, the mobile device UMD user modifies the first transaction code to the value 6501 which indicates that the first transaction Tl should be dropped. The network, for its part, after sending the transaction response message B1, records a transaction result corresponding to the first transaction Tl in the form pending and is placed in a waiting state of a reception message of transaction from the mobile device of the UMD user. The user initiates a second transaction T2 by sending a second transaction request A2 to the network N, and the mobile device of the user UMD then records a code associated with the second transaction T2, for example in the form 0000, and takes place in a waiting state of a second transaction receiving message B2 from the network. The network N sends a second transaction receiving message B2 and records a transaction result corresponding to the second transaction in the form pending, and is placed in a waiting state of a transaction reception message from the mobile device of the user UMD. During this time, the network N has identified that the first transaction T1 has been abandoned (this information can be sent for example by the mobile device of the user UMD in the second transaction request message A2) and then saves a result of transaction for said first transaction as returned, indicating that the first transaction was not successful due to a disruption of the normal transaction protocol.

When the network receives a transaction receiving message C2 corresponding to the second transaction, the network records a transaction result for the second transaction T2 as validated, indicating that the transaction has been successful. A transaction can be rolled back or put into a previous state. For example if a network server is supposed to generate a credit key for the electronic purse, for example five Euro, when the transaction is reversed, the money (that is to say the five Euro) is returned to the electronic account of the network. In the case of a reverse transaction, the electronic purse is not credited. When a transaction is successful, such a transaction is made.

Figure 11 shows how a recognition of a disturbed transaction is managed. In the examples in the figure, it is assumed that the returned credit response is correct, and when a correct credit response is returned, it is assumed that the previous transaction logs are verified and can be trusted.

According to one embodiment of the invention, in the case where the network is not able to resolve pending transactions, the network sends a transaction error response to the mobile device of the user indicating that all The processes must be put on hold, ie the electronic transaction method of the mobile device of the user will be locked and the mobile device will display a transaction error message prompting the user to move closer to the user. a customer service to solve this problem. In this scenario, the transaction log will not be trusted until the user contacts customer service. If no UMD mobile device recognition message has been received on the network side N, there are two possibilities: 1. the network can wait for a new transaction request from the mobile device UMD, and this new message will contain an indication of the status of the last transaction; 2. It will also be possible to initiate a synchronization between the mobile device and the network. Figure 12 shows how an erroneous credit transaction request is handled. The example of the figure describes a situation where due to waiting times in the network and switching in the same network, the request message of the mobile device of the user has not arrived in the expected order.

Example of electronic transaction synchronization As indicated above in FIGS. 10 to 12, each time a transaction event or a perturbation occurs, such an event will be recorded or stored in a memory of the user's mobile device. .

According to one embodiment of the invention, in cases where such memory is limited and this memory has reached its limit, a synchronization between the mobile device of the user and the network is performed before any transaction begins.

Figure 13 shows an example of synchronization initiated by a mobile device of the user when the limit of the log memory is reached. According to another embodiment of the invention, a synchronization event can be initiated by the network, for example when certain transactions must be checked immediately.

Fig. 14 shows a network initiated synchronization event, according to one embodiment of the invention, for synchronizing the mobile device and the network, and changing the status of the last five transactions. The network will trust the transaction status stored on the mobile device to update the transaction record to obtain the same status. Illustrative Mobile Device and Network Transaction Method FIGS. 15 to 17 show three illustrative examples of a method performed by the mobile device of the user to either initiate an electronic transaction request or to receive a response to a request. request from the network (FIGS. 15 to 17) and within the network when a transaction request from the mobile device of the user is received (FIG. 16). Fig. 15 shows a method performed by the mobile device of a user when a new transaction request is initiated. According to the example of the figure, the mobile device of the user sends a transaction request to the network in the form of an SMS message. Generally, this process begins with a request for information on the current state of the transaction process. In the case where the state is pending, it is checked whether a synchronization with the network is necessary, and after this the SMS transaction request is created.

Although this is not shown in the figure, the SMS transaction request may be sent to the network after the process is complete. The SMS message can be sent in encrypted form to secure the communication. In the event that an error or a transaction can not be resolved, the process will be stopped to prevent future corruption. Figure 16 shows a method performed by the network server when it receives a transaction request from a mobile device of a user. According to the example of the figure, the mobile device of the user sends a transaction request to the network in the form of an encrypted SMS message.

Generally, the process starts with the decryption of the SMS, then checks whether a synchronization of the transaction is necessary. The transaction is performed, that is, the electronic wallet of the user is updated and the appropriate certificate is generated by indicating a transaction result and recording the result in a database or memory.

The result of the transaction is indicated by some code that can indicate a successful transaction or a transaction error, for example a balance overrun or an error that can not be solved, etc., ... If the server does not is not able to resolve a pending transaction, the server sends a transaction result code specific to the mobile device of the user to stop any transaction method, and then prompts the user to contact the customer service to resolve this issue. Fig. 17 shows a method performed by the mobile device of the user when receiving a transaction response from a network. Generally, the method begins with a check to see if the mobile device is currently implemented in an electronic transaction method, that is, if it has sent a transaction request to the network and if is waiting for a response from the network. In such a case, it is verified whether the response of the transaction corresponds to the requested transaction and, in such a case, the result of the electronic transaction is determined, for example a successful transaction, an unsuccessful transaction due to an overrun of the balance. , an error that can not be solved, etc. When a positive transaction result code is received, the balance of the electronic purse is updated, and it is assumed that the server then resolves all previous transactions correctly. Thus, the previous transaction records are approved. A transaction confirmation is also created and sent later to the network (not shown). Example of Implementation of the SIM TOOLKIT Menu FIGS. 18A to 18E show an implementation of the SIM TOOLKIT menu of the mobile device in order to carry out electronic transactions with a portable device according to one embodiment of the invention. Using the SIM TOOLKIT menu, which is available on the display of the mobile phone, the user can check the balance of his electronic purse (Figure 18A), request the information of his last transactions (Figure 18B), transfer the the money from his electronic wallet to his electronic wallet (figures 18C and 18D), and vice versa from the electronic purse to the electronic wallet of the network (figure 18E). Users can perform electronic transactions anywhere and anytime, using only a mobile phone that is adapted to manage an electronic wallet of the user and communicate with the network according to the invention. The mobile phone may include, for example, a multi-function integrated circuit card, which may be used both as a SIM card and as an electronic wallet card. According to the invention, a specific computer program that is implemented on the mobile phone or in the SIM card can be implemented to access and modify the balance of the electronic purse, to store the transaction information and to communicate with the network that contains the user's electronic wallet. Authentication and Encryption According to one embodiment of the invention, the authentication can be performed by providing the user's personal identification number. Communication between the mobile device of the user and the network can be encrypted. Finalization method According to the invention, there are two ways to finalize electronic transactions: a) a first category in which the electronic purse belongs to a company that also owns the electronic wallet of the user. In such a case, the electronic purse records will be stored on the electronic purse for each debit and credit of the electronic wallet, and the electronic wallet records will be stored on a specific network server for each debit and credit. done with the e-wallet. b) a second category in which the electronic purse belongs to a partner company which also owns the user's electronic wallet. In such a case, the finalization will be done through reports exchanged by both companies. Management of a plurality of electronic purses According to one embodiment of the invention, the mobile device or the multi-function integrated circuit card of the mobile device can manage an electronic purse of one or more users. 25

Claims (20)

A system for transferring electronic data between a first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) and a second plurality of communication equipment (S1-S4) interconnected via a communication network (N), said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) being constituted by at least portable electronic devices, each portable electronic device being worn by a user, and comprising first data transfer control means interconnected with first storage means (EP). ) and wireless communication means, said wireless communication means being adapted to communicate wirelessly through said communications network (N) with said second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S4), said second plurality of communications equipment (S1 to S4) consisting of at least equipment distributed each at fixed locations of said communications network (N) and including second data transfer control means interconnected with second storage means (EW), said first data transfer control means of said first plurality of storage facilities; communication (UMD) being adapted to generate and send messages of a first or a second type, through said wireless communication means, to said second plurality of communication equipment (SI to S4), said messages of the first type comprising a request to modify a value stored in said first storage means (EP) or in said second storage means (EW) and a user identification information, said second typecommits having an indication that a value stored in said first storage means (EP) has been modified, said second control means the data transfer of said second plurality of communication equipment (Si to S4) being adapted to receive and analyze said messages of a first or a second type of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD), checking whether said user identification information allows access to said second storage means (EW), and generating and sending messages of a third type, by said wireless communication means, to said first plurality of equipment communication (UMD), said messages of a third type comprising an indication for modifying the value stored in said first storage means (EP) or an electronic data transfer error indication, said first and second control means of transferring respective data of said first and second plurality of communication equipment (UMD, S1 to S4) being also adapted to generate messages in encrypted form. 2. System for electronic data transfer according to claim 1, characterized in that said first storage means (EP) are in the form of logic micro-structures. 3. System for electronic data transfer according to claim 2, characterized in that said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) also comprises coupling means for coupling at will, temporarily, through a coupling interface (W1), at least one of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) to an independent recording device (PT) located in a fixed location, said independent recording device (PT) comprising means for reading the contents of said first storage means (EP) of said equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) when said equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) is coupled with said device; independent recording (PT), and writing means in said first storage means (EP) of said equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD). A system for electronic data transfer according to claim 1, characterized in that a message of the first type sent by at least one of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) to at least one of a second of said second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S4) comprises a request to increase a value stored in said first storage means (EP) by a certain amount, said data transfer control means of said second communication equipment being also adapted to access the second storage means (EW) of said second equipment, in order to reduce a value stored in said second storage means (EW) by said certain quantity, and to send to said first equipment a message of a third type comprising an indication for increasing the value stored in the first storage means (EP), and said data transfer control means of said first equipment being also adapted to access said first storage means (EP), in order to increase a value stored in said first storage means (EP) by said certain quantity, and to send to said second equipment a message of a second type including an indication that said first storage means (EP) has been modified. The electronic data transfer system according to claim 4, characterized in that said first type message sent by said first equipment from said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) to said second equipment of said second plurality communication equipment (S 1 to S4), comprising a request to increase a value stored in said first storage means (EP) by a certain amount, is sent automatically when the value stored in said first storage means (EP) is below a certain threshold. The electronic data transfer system according to claim 1, characterized in that said message of a first type sent by said first equipment of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) to said second equipment of the second plurality of communication equipment (Si to S4) comprises a request to increase a value stored in said second storage means (EW) by a certain amount, the data transfer control means of said second communication equipment (S 1 to S4) being also adapted to access said second storage means (EW) in order to increase the value stored in said second storage means (EW) by said certain quantity, and to send a message of a third type to said first equipment comprising an indication enabling the reduction of a value stored in said first storage means (EP), and the data transfer control means of said first equipment being also adapted to access said first storage means (EP), in order to reduce the value stored in said first storage means (EP) by said certain quantity, and to send a message of a second type to said second equipment including an indication that said first storage means (EP) has been modified. The electronic data transfer system according to claim 1, characterized in that said messages of a first, second and third type also comprise an identification number, and that the data transfer control means of the first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) and the second plurality of communication equipment (S1 to S4) are also adapted to record said identification number, check whether the messages arrive in a predetermined order of protocol and record a disturbance event of said protocol. 8. System for the transfer of electronic data according to claim 7, characterized in that the data transfer control means of the first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) and the second plurality of communication equipment (Si to S4) are also adapted to detect that a number of disturbance events have been reached, and to generate and send a system synchronization request to change the state of a number of electronic data transfer protocols. . 9. System for the transfer of electronic data according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transfer control means of the first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) are also adapted to exchange control information with means display control system for providing a menu of operations in said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD), said operation menu displaying electronic data transfer options available to the user, current and historical information on electronic data transfers, electronic data stored in said first storage means (EP) and electronic data transfer error or success messages. 10. System for the transfer of electronic data according to claim 1, characterized in that said second plurality of communication equipment (SI to S4) comprises at least one dedicated electronic transactional communications server (S 1) adapted to receive and transmit to said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) all the transaction requests, said second plurality of communication equipment (Si to S4) being connected to a central electronic transaction server (S2) adapted to encrypt / decrypt the communications with the first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) using a key management server (S3), and adapted to authenticate, access and modify a value of at least one of said second storage means ( EW) in a virtual wallet application server (S4). System for the transfer of electronic data according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the value to be modified in said first storage means (EP) and / or in said second storage means (EW) is a value indicating a sum of money that the user owns in an electronic format. 12. Communication equipment (UMD), being a portable electronic device, of a first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) communicating with a second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S4) via a communication network (N); said communication equipment (UMD) comprising first data transfer control means interconnected with first storage means (EP) and with wireless communication means, said wireless communication means being adapted to communicate, by means of a first wireless interface (W2), with said communications network (N), and through a coupling interface (W1), with an independent recording device (PT) located in a fixed location; said data transfer control means being adapted to generate, encrypt and send messages of a first or second type, through said first wireless interface (W2), to said second plurality of communication equipment (SI to S4), said first type messages comprising a request to modify a value stored in said first storage means (EP) or in second storage means (EW) included in said second plurality of communication equipment (SI to S4) and user identification information, said second type messages including an indication that a value stored in said first storage means (EP) has been modified; and for receiving, decrypting and analyzing messages of a third type of said second plurality of communication equipment (Sl-S4), said third-type messages including an indication for modifying the value stored in said first storage means (EP) or an error indication of electronic data transfer. 13. Communication network (N) comprising a second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S4), data transfer control means interconnected to second storage means (EW), and wireless communication means being adapted to communicate, via a wireless interface (W2), with at least one of a first plurality of communication equipment (UMD), said data transfer control means being adapted to receive, decrypt and analyzing messages of a first or a second type from said at least one of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD), said first type messages comprising a request for modification of a value stored in first means of storage (EP) included in said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) or in said second storage means (EW) and a user identification information tor, and said second type messages including an indication that a value stored in said first storage means (EP) has been modified; checking whether said user identification information allows access to said second storage means (EW); and generating, decrypting and sending, to said at least one of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD), messages of a third type comprising an indication for modifying the value stored in said first storage means (EP) or an error indication of electronic data transfer. A computer program product, to be executable in a communication equipment (UMD) according to claim 12, and comprising program code instructions for managing said first interconnected data transfer control means to first storage means (EP) and said wireless communication means, for communicating, via said first wireless interface (W2), with said communications network (N), and through said coupling interface (W1), with said independent recording device (PT) located in a fixed location, and for reading or writing data in first storage means (EP). A method for transferring electronic data between a first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) and a second plurality of communication equipment (S1 to S4) interconnected via a communication network (N), the method comprising the following steps: at least one of a first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) generating, encrypting and sending messages of a first or of a second type, via a wireless interface ( W2), to said second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S4), said first type messages comprising a request to modify a value stored in first storage means (EP) included in said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD) or in second storage means (EW) included in at least one of said second plurality of communication equipment (SI to S4), and identification information said second type messages comprising an indication that a value stored in said first storage means (EP) has been modified; and the second plurality of communication equipment (S1-S4) receiving, decrypting and analyzing said first or second type messages from said at least one of said first plurality of communication equipment (UMD), verifying whether said information user identification allows access to said second storage means (EW), and generating, encrypting and sending messages of a third type including an indication for modifying the value stored in said first storage means (EP) or a error indication of electronic data transfer. 16. The method of claim 15, characterized in that the messages of a first, a second or a third type are authenticated to allow only transactions between mutually authorized devices. 17. The method of claim 15, characterized in that said wireless interface (W2) allows communication beyond at least ten meters. 18. The method of claim 15, characterized in that said request of said at least one of said first plurality of communications equipment (UMD) comprises a request for increasing a value stored in said first storage means (EP). by a certain amount, in response to which said second second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S4) decreases a value stored in said second storage means (EW) by said certain quantity, and sends to said at least one of said first ladit pluralite of communications equipment (UMD) a message of a third type comprising an indication for increasing the value stored in the first storage means (EP). 19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that said request is sent automatically when the electronic value stored in said first storage means (EP) of said at least one of said first plurality of communications equipment (UMD) is below a predetermined threshold value. 20. The method of claim 15, characterized in that said request of said at least one of said first plurality of communications equipment (UMD) is a request to increase a value stored in said second storage means (EW). by a certain amount, in response to which said second plurality of communication equipment (S 1 to S 4) increases the value stored in said second storage means (EW) by said certain quantity, and sends a message of a third type to said first equipment including an indication for decreasing a value stored in said first storage means (EP).